010611 RACHAEL A REAL FIGHTER
By Tom Kathoa
Women in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville have a place in the politics and governance of the region.
The result of the lone female candidate, Rachael Opeti Konaka in the just completed North Bougainville Open by election speaks volume of the potential women have and can contribute to the development of the region in all areas of activity.
MS. Konaka has put up a good fight against her more experienced male candidates defeating twenty of them to secure the number two spot in the race.
She polled 5162 votes to be all the other male candidates except for candidate Lauta Atoi who has won the by election convincingly with a total of 10,463 votes.
Ms. Konaka did not do well on preferential votes, but did very well on the number two votes which elevated her to be the runner-up to the winning candidate.
The finale count again for the top three candidates are; Lauta Atoi winning with 10,463 in second place is Rachael Opeti Konaka on 5,162 and in third place is PDM candidate, Damien Kora who collected 5,146 votes.
The finale result was arrived at following the elimination of candidate Donald Hamau to give Lauto the final winning and deciding votes.
Ends…